Rosatom completes longevity testing of modified nuclear fuel for NPPs in Finland and Hungary

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

TVEL, PUBLISHED 05.12.2018

OKB Gidropress research and experiment facility, a part of Rosatom engineering division Atomenergomash, has finished longevity testing of fuel assembly models with optimized hydro-uranium ratio for VVER-440 reactors. This new modification of second-generation nuclear fuel is developed for the Paks NPP in Hungary and Loviisa NPP in Finland within the contracts between TVEL Fuel Company of Rosatom and the foreign customers.

Longevity testing is one of the most essentialmilestones during nuclear fuel development especially important for the customers, since its results demonstrate behavior of structural materials in conditions similar to those inside the reactor core. In course of the testing, the behavior of the fuel assembly models was studied for 1500 hours in a coolant flow with the parameters as close as possible to the reactor conditions in terms of consumption, temperature, pressure and pressure pulsations

The test results were presented while the models were revised during the visit of the representatives of Forum Power and Heat (Finland), Paks NPP and the Hungarian regulatory organization. It was noted that the chosen technical solutions(for example, imitating the condition of burnt nuclear fuel) allowedto verify and confirm the performance of the new modification at all stages of nuclear fuel operation.

The new modification ofsecond-generation VVER-440 nuclear fuel allowsto increase the coolant volume inside the reactor core and optimize of the hydro-uranium ratio, which would have a positive impactfor both technical and economic performance of the power unit.

"The new fuel for the Hungarian and Finnish NPPs is based on a unified solution. However, it would allow TVEL Fuel Company to create an exclusive final product to meet each customer's own fuel cycle strategy and other individual requires. Our technical solution with higher uranium massenables us and our customer either to make nuclear plant operation more economically efficient by reducing the amount of fuel assemblies, or to lowerthe level of uranium enrichment", Alexander Ugryumov, Vice-President for R&D at TVEL JSC, commented.

Topics: NFC, TVEL, Hungary, Loviisa

Other news:

454 nuclear units are operating in the world

Another 54 units have the status of the being built one.

Rusatom Healthcare and Asian American Medical Group sign MoU to Develop Nuclear Medical Centre in Malaysia

The MoU was signed at the 9th Session of the High-Level Russia-Singapore Inter-Governmental Commission in Singapore.

Nuclear fuel loading has commenced at the 4th power unit of Tianwan NPP

On August 25, 2018 the first fuel assembly was loaded into the core of Tianwan NPP Unit 4 in China.

Hero of the day

WANO appoints Tom Mitchell as the new WANO Chairman

The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), the world's leading safety organisation for commercial nuclear power plants, announced that it has elected Mr Tom Mitchell as the next Chairman of WANO.

INTERVIEW

Peter Prozesky
WANO's mission is to maximise the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants worldwide. We do this by working together to assess, benchmark and improve performance through mutual support, exchange of information, and emulation of best practices.

OPINION

Victor Murogov
If we talk about the history of the nuclear science and technology, which determined the creation and the development of nuclear weapons and, then, nuclear power, we must return more than 100 years ago, in the early 20^th century.